Many individuals recall the anticipation for Iginla to distribute the puck, the instant the young athlete propelled the puck into the net, and the resulting joy.
A nation rejoiced when Sidney Crosby, at age 22, secured the overtime victory at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Almost 16 years onward, Crosby cherishes winning gold on familiar territory as a paramount highlight in his distinguished hockey journey.
Nevertheless, Crosby also holds in his memory the despair he underwent when the Canadians, nearing a regulation triumph with less than half a minute remaining, conceded the equalizer to American player Zach Parise. That sensation of nearly attaining his childhood aspiration from Cole Harbour, N.S., only to witness it slip away, will likely remain with him indefinitely.
Within the locker room prior to overtime, the Canadian athletes were disturbed. Yet, seasoned defender Scott Niedermayer remained composed, steadfast in his confidence in their squad. Similarly, head coach Mike Babcock urged someone to forget the setback, step forward, and emerge as the overtime hero.
Crosby transformed his despair into resolve and focus. They were playing at home. It was a chance they were determined not to squander, and a moment Crosby was prepared to embrace.
“That self-assurance and collective faith were unmistakable as we approached overtime,” Crosby shared with CBC Olympics anchor Ariel Helwani in an exclusive exchange. “Even as a novice, I sensed it and felt privileged to partake, and then to execute the task successfully.”
Host Ariel Helwani asks Golden Goal scorer Sidney Crosby about if there is anything that the public does not know about his overtime goal at the Vancouver 2010 men’s hockey final.
Now 38 and no longer considered a youngster, Crosby anticipates another chance to craft an extraordinary Olympic memory in Italy this February. On Tuesday, Lululemon revealed the attire athletes will don at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and Crosby was announced as a Team Canada ambassador.
Undoubtedly, Crosby will sport the captain’s ‘C’ on his jersey when the Canadian squad commences competition against the Czech Republic on February 12. It would come as no shock if he also bore Canada’s flag at the opening ceremony.
Sidney Crosby chats with Ariel Helwani for an exclusive conversation about his motivation this season as we approach the 2026 winter Olympics, what it will take to compete for Canada again on the world stage & untold stories of the iconic 2010 golden goal.
Yet, all of that appears distant to him. Presently, Crosby — who gained selection to the team along with five others back in June — is simply delighted to revisit the Olympics.
He also possesses strong motivation. In his 21st professional season, Crosby remains among the premier talents in the NHL. As of Tuesday, Crosby registered 12 goals across 19 games, trailing the league leader, Colorado Avalanche forward and fellow Nova Scotian, Nathan MacKinnon, by a mere two goals.
Simultaneously, Crosby has steered his Pittsburgh Penguins to third place within the Eastern Conference, despite modest preseason expectations for the team.
Returning to the Olympics presents an opportunity Crosby has eagerly awaited for 12 years, and one he doubted would ever materialize. It was conceivable that Crosby’s final Olympic showing had already transpired at the Sochi Winter Games, unknowingly at the time. There were no assurances, neither the NHL players’ return to the Games, nor Crosby’s continued health or prolonged career.
Instead, at least one more chapter awaits from a hockey great.
“To have missed them and to have been uncertain about what was ahead, and now to know that we’re indeed returning, that in itself is a motivator,” Crosby expressed. “That’s predominantly on my mind. It’s about maximizing this present opportunity.”
‘I still love it’
We shall never know what the hockey community forfeited across those 12 years sans Crosby and his NHL colleagues at the Olympics.
Yet, the 4 Nations Face-Off afforded us a glimpse into what we had been deprived of. The intensity heightened when Canada and the United States engaged in the preliminary round, and rose further when they clashed in the championship match.
That instance surpassed best-on-best hockey, despite undoubtedly showcasing it. It encompassed national pride, during a period when the stakes transcended the mere result of a hockey contest. When Connor McDavid found the net in overtime, the nation collectively sighed in relief.
“I’m unsure if anyone anticipated the momentum it garnered,” Crosby remarked. “We recognized that the competition would be fierce, given the caliber of players assembled and the nations participating, promising exceptional hockey. It simply became one of those events that accumulated substantial momentum and intensity. The hockey was marvelous.”
Achieving victory in Milano Cortina would award Crosby his third Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey, a feat unmatched by any other Canadian man. This revelation surprised him.
“I was unaware of that and remain far removed from that milestone, necessitating substantial effort before even contemplating its possibility,” he acknowledged. “However, it would indeed be special.”
He perceives the greater opportunity as the chance to secure victory alongside players from that 4 Nations team, luminaries such as McDavid, MacKinnon, and Cale Makar, who have yet to savor the Olympic stage. They have not experienced the chance to seize the moment as Crosby did before a home crowd, facing adversity, in overtime in 2010.
“It would be extraordinary to accomplish it alongside them,” Crosby expressed.
Numerous hockey games remain between now and then. With a compressed NHL schedule preceding the Olympic hiatus, the season is rigorous and requires unwavering focus. Nevertheless, the Olympics linger in Crosby’s thoughts, a reality that will intensify as the remainder of the Canadian roster is unveiled in the weeks ahead.
When a teenaged Crosby debuted in the NHL two decades prior, he admired players whom he strived to emulate. Currently, younger players are challenging him, consistently inspiring him to improve.
Throughout this journey, little has shifted for Crosby. He refrains from social media. His approach to hockey has remained consistent. He endeavors to perform at his peak and observe the outcome.
“It ultimately boils down to possessing passion and striving for personal excellence,” he asserted. “I continue to cherish it, and I believe that’s paramount.”
Will this mark his final Olympics? Crosby found that question challenging to address.
“That’s a difficult query,” he admitted.
He paused briefly to gather his thoughts.
“I hope it’s not. But should it be, I hope to maximize this incredible opportunity. Yet, who can foresee? I aspire to play for as long as feasible.”
